Antaeus is a band from France, and "Cut Your Flesh and Worship Satan" is their first full-length release. "Cut Your Flesh..." is half an hour of fast, brutal Black Metal. Everything here is just as it should be - snarling vocals, perfect drumming, and great riffs bearing just the right amount of thrash. On first listen, the sheer brutality of this music was obvious, but what really impresses me is the excellent songwriting here. These songs are blisteringly fast, yet the band has managed to inject each of them with quite a few interesting riffs and unique ideas. The speed changes are especially well written, and seem both effortless and perfectly timed.

Antaeus puts me in mind of old Mayhem and Bestial Warlust... which is no small compliment. Anyone who likes their Black Metal raw and fast, but isn't averse to a bit of complexity, should seek this at once.

Standout tracks: Devotee, Specimen 28, Bleeding Blasphemy

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